Hidden roof gutter



Feb. 5, 1957 F. OLSSON 2,780,184

HIDDEN ROOF CUTTER Filed Nov. 25, 1953 INVENTOR. FREDERICK OLSSON ATTORNEY United States Patent HIDDEN ROOF GUTTER Frederick Olsson, Floral Park, N. Y.

Application November 25, 1953, Serial No. 394,247

3 Claims. (Cl. 10828) This invention pertains to new and useful improvements in rain water gutters for the lower edges of sloping roofs. It is particularly concerned with a roof gutter that cannot, because of its particular form, be readily seenfrom the ground.

A common complaint made, usually by the home owner, of conventional type gutters is, among other things, their lack or ornamental qualities. They do not add to the attractiveness of a home or other building and, if anything, they detract from its beauty. The conventional gutter used at the edge of a sloping roof is an elongated semi-circular or box-like trough. Often this form of gutter appears rotted, sagging with overflowing matter, weather beaten and discolored. As such it is not a pleasant sight and, were it not for the fact that rain water must be carried oft from the roof, this type of gutter would be quickly removed.

An object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a gutter for the edge of a sloping roof, that serves to carry off rain water and yet does not detract from the appearance of the building.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hidden gutter, that is, one which is not readily visible from the ground.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sloping roof construction wherein a rain water gutter is a unitary part of the roof structure.

A still further object of the invention is a new and improved form of rain gutter for sloping roofs of buildings.

Still another object of the invention is means for providing a hidden gutter for a sloping roof.

The invention further lies in the particular construction and arrangement of the various elements of the gutter and also in its particular association with the related roof.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawings, wherein an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and description, and are not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein a rain water gutter embodying the invention is illustrated:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the gutter and an associated section of a sloping roof;

Fig. 2 is a right end view of Fig. l

Fig. 3 is a left end view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail of the body element and the covering thereof;

Fig. 5 is a further illustration of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of another means of using the invention; and

Fig. 7 is a modified form of the body and overlapping section, shown as a section in perspective.

In describing the invention in further detail reference is directed to the drawings, wherein there is shown a broad side 1 of a sloping roof, along the lower border of which is mounted a wedge shaped element 2, the tapered end 3 of which is disposed in parallel relation to the lower edge of the roof. The forward wall 4 of element 2 rises substantially at right angles from the roof. The base of element 2 rests upon a heavy layer of conventional roofing paper 5 secured to the surface of the roof proper. A rectangular section 6 is secured to and covers the outer surface of element 2. The lower edge of section 6 extends along the edge of the roof and is tapered as at 7 to lie flush upon the roof. The forward wall of element 2 declines or slopes at a slight angle from one end 8 thereof to the opposite end 9. The leading or forward edge of section 6 overhangs the sloping wall of element 2, whereby a channel or gutter 12 is formed between the overhang of section 6 and the roof proper. The wedge element 2 forms the body of the gutter. A flow wall for the gutter is provided by the forward wall 4 of element 2. The width of the gutter, that is the distance between the overhanging section 11 and the roof, is relatively narrow. The width of the gutter may be increased by providing the body element 2 with a higher forward wall 4.

The channel or gutter 12 serves to catch rain water flowing down the sloping roof. The water flows down the declining wall of the gutter to the low end 9 thereof. At the low end a suitable catch and leader pipe, not shown, might be located to carry the water from the gutter down to the ground.

The rectangular covering piece 6 is relatively narrow. Its outer surface may be suitably painted to conform with the roof proper where the latter is painted; or it may, as here be properly waterproofed and covered with shingles 14 to conform with matching shingles 14 on the roof proper. Here, a double course of shingles is provided, of which the tail end 15 of the base shingle extends beyond the rectangular piece 6 and over the edge of the roof.

The rectangular covering piece 6 may, as in Fig. 5, be provided with a tail portion 16 which extends over the edge of the roof and provides eves for the roof.

The shingles 14' of the roof proper extend down the roof and over the roofing paper 5 until the last course thereof is substantially opposite the leading edge of the covering piece 6. By this arrangement it is difficult when viewing the broad side of the roof from the ground to see where the overhanging element 6 ends, for a deceptive appearance is presented wherein the outer covering of the gutter appears to be a continuation of the roof proper. This deception is greater where the channel is narrow and relatively close to the roof.

It can, now be readily appreciated how by the foregoing arrangement a sloping roof is provided with a hidden rain water gutter. The gutter conforms in appearance to the roof proper and thereby materially adds to the appearance of the roof. Further, the gutter serves to efiiciently carry rain water from the roof Without detracting in any way from the general appearance of the building.

To insure against any possible leakage between the body element 2 and the roof proper, the channel may be lined with metal flashing, as indicated at 17 in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. The flashing continues up the roof beyond the gutter a short space where it is overlapped as at 18 by the lower course of shingles. The other end of the flashing may continue over the leading edge 11 of the covering piece to form a cap 19 for the upper course of shingles 14.

The wedge element 2 is of wood, and may be made in a plurality of continuous pieces, according to the length of the roof to be accommodated. The body element 2 may be formed of suitable plastic or other rigid material. It may also be built up upon the roof by suitable framing covered over by the covering piece 6. The body element "ice 2 together with the covering rectangular piece 6 may be moulded of suitable composition material as an integral unit with simulated shingles thereon, such as illustrated in Fig. 7.

The pitch or decline of the channel 12 of the gutter may be varied as desired, it is, however, preferably slight. Where a roof is exceedingly long, the gutter may be arranged to carry water off at both ends of the roof, as indicated in the fragmentary illustration in Fig. 6. In this arrangement the wide ends 8 of a pair of body elements 2' are placed in abutment with one another so that the low ends thereof extend to opposite ends of the roof.

While the invention has been described and illustrated as above, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, and it is my intent to claim the invention, not only as shown and described but also in all such forms and modifications thereof as may be reasonably construed to be within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a sloping shingled roof, a rain Water gutter, dis guised to conceal its presence and to allow a deceptive appearance of a continuous unbroken surface of the roof proper, comprising an elongated wedge form body elernent having a relatively short forward wall at right angles to the surface of the roof and declining from one end to the other, a bottom wall secured to the lower border surface of the roof and having its elongated edge at the eves edge of the roof, and an outer top wall sloping down from the top of the forward wall of the elongated edge of the bottom wall and having an edge overhanging the forward wall whereby a gutter is formed between the overhanging edge and the roof surface, and shingles matching those of the roof covering the outer top wall, tail ends of the shingles extending beyond the eves edge of the roof and forming extended eves for the roof.

2. Means for forming on a shingled sloping roof a rain water gutter disguised to conceal its presence and to provide the deceptive appearance of an unbroken sloping roof surface, the means comprising an elongated preformed wedge-form body of plastic material having a bottom wall, a shorter forward wall at right angles to an elongated edge of the latter, and a top wall tapering down from the top of the shorter wall to the opposite elongated edge of the bottom wall, the forward wall declining from one end to the other, and the top wall having an edge overhanging the forward wall and having an integral surface simulating the shingled surface of the roof proper, the wedge form when secured with its bottom wall to the roof surface and its forward wall facing the peak of the roof providing a rain gutter channel between the roof proper and the overhanging edge.

3. In a sloping shingled roof a rain water gutter, dis guised to conceal its presence and to allow a deceptive appearance of a continuous unbroken surface of the roof proper, comprising a triangular wedge having a thickened vertex, top and bottom surfaces tapering down to an elongated base edge, and having side walls adjacent to the vertex declining in diverging directions to the opposite ends of the base edge, the wedge secured to the roof surface with the bottom surface contacting the roof surface and the base edge aligned with the eves edge of the roof, the top surface of the wedge having a forward edge overhanging the declining side walls, and shingles matching those of the roof covering the top surface and overhanging the eves edge of the roof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 344,228 Waltz June 22, 1886 827,456 Loefller et al July 31, 1906 2,615,752 Hoag Oct. 28, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 61,665 Sweden Oct. 14, 1925 

